The digital transition: Trends to consider
Gavin Bashar, UK & I managing director at Tunstall Healthcare, discusses the digital transition and the technology trends that health, housing and social care providers may want to consider.
As we continue to make gains on the learnings that have been made over the past few years, a better understanding of the benefits of technology within the health, care and wellness space is continuing to develop from both professionals and citizens.
The move from Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to a digital communications network is just one example of what is happening at a time when connectivity has become even more intrinsic to the way we work and live. The transition, which continues to be implemented across the UK, will see market change driven by the required move from analogue to a digital (IP) fibre network.
The switchover to digital will present significant benefits over and above traditional service provision and will enable a more predictive environment that can highlight behaviour changes and forecast the need for extra support. This in turn will contribute to the growth of real time data gathering and reporting in service provision, joining up stakeholders and providing a better opportunity for planning and the implementation of effective services to citizens in the community.
Many service providers and the vulnerable people they care for may be unaware of upcoming upgrades or the impact this will have on them. By working closely with health technology companies and telecare providers, health, housing and social care service providers can begin to prepare themselves for the digital future in terms of equipment and services, and also ensure citizens and their families are educated about the changes and the possible impact the switch may have on them.
Here are technology trends to consider:
1. Hospitals at home will become more common
On average, at any given time, 5% of NHS England hospital beds are occupied by patients awaiting discharge and the majority of these beds are in acute care.
Since the pandemic, we have continued to see the growth of virtual wards, and we’re expecting to see them become more of a focus in health and care delivery. Most of the population would rather receive care in the comfort of their own homes, and virtual wards will enable this. A recent study coordinated by the NIHR and researchers from the Nuffield Department of Population Health at the University of Oxford found that caring for vulnerable, older people at home can improve patient outcomes.
2. The growth of consumer engagement
The consumer health and wellness market is big business, with more people than ever before becoming invested and engaged in the monitoring of their physical and mental health. For example, wearable electronic devices have quickly become an integral segment of the electronics and consumer wellness industries, with smartwatches experiencing a sharp upturn in sales. This is likely to continue, with an expected revenue of £43.8 billion by 2025.
This of course means that consumers across our population are becoming increasingly technologically savvy and understanding of the benefits of digital devices and how to use them. This digital upskilling of the nation will encourage the integration of readily available consumer devices within clinical practices and care delivery, to engage with citizens and support improved health outcomes.
3. Improved cohesion to support frontline workers
Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) are moving to ensure our services can facilitate efficient data-led decision making in care delivery, which is a crucial step in becoming a global leader in population health management.
Through this, we will see more cohesion and improved data gathering from technology providers and data companies. This will help to support clinicians and other frontline workers in their goals of improving the health outcomes of our population. Ultimately, effective data gathering, and extrapolation will result in improved information and insight which can then be used to influence decision making in healthcare.
The next generation of technology
The latest generation of digital technology enabled care solutions (TECS) opens up a whole new world of possibilities for caring for people in different settings, from group living environments such as care homes, to their own home. This includes broadening the circle of care to engage families, friends, and communities, and using data-driven insights to refine care delivery.
Digital solutions such as remote patient monitoring (RPM) can be used to support early intervention which can avoid the need for more complex care for people living with chronic conditions. RPM solutions can be tailored to the needs of every user by harnessing the power of technology to design services around individual needs, rather than location. This can support patients in taking an active role in managing their own health. RPM can also be scaled and adapted responsively according to clinical need, seasonal and environmental risks, and technological innovation. Technologies like this can support service providers in offering more dignified and independent care.
The next generation of solutions will support a range of organisations in the ongoing delivery of successful health, housing and care services to vulnerable people across the UK, helping providers ensure their monitoring services maximise the digital opportunity and the gains that can be made on the health outcomes of the people they care for. This next generation of technology will also support a vulnerable population that is better engaged with its own health and wellbeing, and can live independently for longer.
It is crucial that technology partners work together with health, housing and social care providers to deliver root and branch change. Strategic investment in technology to underpin new models of care is key in reconfiguring and integrating services as the digital transition continues.